First corner of new town centre ‘linear park’ given green light

The first corner of Oldham’s brand new town centre park has been given the green light by councillors.

The local authority is in the process of making a scheme to create a new six-acre ‘linear’park – named ‘Jubilee Park’ – in Oldham a reality.

This week members of Oldham’s planning committee voted in favour of plans to convert the Rock Street car park off St Mary’s Way into an area of public open space.

Currently it is being used as a 65-space car park, but under the latest approval will become the south-eastern part of the new Jubilee Park.

Landscaping proposals include retaining the existing trees, as well as ‘woodland glade’ planting, ‘heather terrace’ planting and new grasses, lawns , and 85 new trees.

Pathways will be illuminated through bollards and lighting columns to ‘improve the sense of safety’.

Committee chair, Councillor Ruji Surjan, said: “I think it’s a fantastic initiative, part of our wider town centre regeneration plans.

“And I think it’s much-needed especially in built up areas to have this open green space available for our local residents particularly those visiting the town centre.”

During the meeting, Coun Angela Cosgrove asked whether additional disabled parking bays would be provided in the town centre, as there would be a loss of ‘around six’ from the car park.

“There is a major concern that the disabled bays in Oldham are at capacity at the moment,” she added.

Head of planning, Peter Richards, said that they were ‘content’ that the overall reduction in car parking as a result of the park development ‘can be coped with’.

On disabled bays, he added there were still ‘plenty around the town centre generally’.

“The loss at this particular site, we’re comfortable that it can be accommodated,” Mr Richards said.

In the south-east of the site a two-way cycle lane would be created linking Rock Street to St Mary’s Way, which would incorporate into the proposed cyclops junction on St Mary’s Way.

The main part of the park will be create on land due to be made vacant once the current Tommyfield Market building is demolished, and on the site of the former Oldham Sports Centre in Lord Street.

It forms part of the ongoing regeneration project for the town, which is also seeing the revamp of Spindles Shopping Centre, and the creation of a new indoor market, and the intention to build thousands of new homes in the centre.

Speaking on the park application, planning officer Graham Dickman said: “This is a first phase of this part of the town centre of the wider proposed improvement works.”

In July, the authority announced it was to enter into a 15 year partnership with ‘placemaker’ company Muse to progress development of ‘strategic’ residential sites and infrastructure along with the council, including the new public park.

The homes would be a mix of tenures, including social housing, apartments and built using green technology and ‘passive house’ principles.

The park plans were approved unanimously.

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